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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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ERCOT prepping for winter electric demand

The grid operator has been closely watched since mass outages in 2021.

News

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's vice-presidential chances

A prolific fundraiser, the border governor is a Trump loyalist.

Politics

Texas kids losing Medicaid insurance in overwhelmed system

Lapsed coverage means kids miss emergency medical care.

Texas' strongest THC gummy hits the market

It's 50% stronger than the strongest legal edibles previously available.

Health

When to rake in Austin

The benefits of leaving your leaves might be more than you think.

Fall is here, and leaf season is upon us.What&#x27;s happening: If you aren&#x27;t already dealing with leaves in your yard, you will be soon.

Illustration of a fall leaf holding a pumpkin spice latte. 

Seven Spirits serves up cocktails, food

The new spot is perfect for an evening on the patio.

Food and Drink

On a quest to finally see what replaced Mexican restaurant Takoba, we headed to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Seven Spirits" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/sevenspiritsaustin/" data-vars-content-id="df164340-531a-4a1e-83df-a3e1497badd3" data-vars-headline="Seven Spirits serves up cocktails, food" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/sevenspiritsaustin/" target="_blank">Seven Spirits</a> for a cocktail and food.Details: The counter-service bar, which opened in July, is run by Takoba and El Tacorrido owner Jose de Loera.

How Austin celebrates Día de los Muertos

Celebrations continue throughout the city this week.

While Día de los Muertos is a holiday that originates in Mexico, Austin has plenty of ways to mark the important religious and cultural event.What&#x27;s happening: The city&#x27;s longest-running Día de los Muertos event — Mexic-Arte Museum&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="annual Viva La Vida" data-vars-click-url="https://mexic-artemuseum.org/event/viva-la-vida-2023/" data-vars-content-id="718e03da-ef21-4e45-8b6e-a0a6cc7db442" data-vars-headline="How Austin celebrates Día de los Muertos" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mexic-artemuseum.org/event/viva-la-vida-2023/" target="_blank">annual Viva La Vida</a> parade — concluded Saturday, but celebrations continue throughout the city this week.

Uchibā is expanding Austin's Uchi empire

The casual Japanese restaurant opened earlier this month.

Austin&#x27;s Uchi opened its casual Japanese restaurant and bar Uchibā earlier this month at 601 W. Second St., and reservations are going fast.Why it matters: Chef Tyson Cole&#x27;s Uchi helped put Austin&#x27;s culinary scene on the national map and, after opening outposts in a handful of other cities, including Miami and Denver, the restaurant is expanding its brand in Austin.

What to do in Austin during Formula 1

Parties and other events celebrating the race will take place across Austin.

Hundreds of thousands of Formula 1 fans will head to Circuit of the Americas this weekend for the U.S. Grand Prix.Why it matters: The Austin airport <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sees some of its busiest travel" data-vars-click-url="https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/story/austins-airport-gears-up-for-record-breaking-october-with-acl-formula-one-events-texas" data-vars-content-id="764bd65e-5e72-423c-b1a7-eda74940b1fc" data-vars-headline="What to do in Austin during Formula 1" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/story/austins-airport-gears-up-for-record-breaking-october-with-acl-formula-one-events-texas" target="_blank">sees some of its busiest travel</a> days around F1 weekend, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="while local economists" data-vars-click-url="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2022/10/17/10-years-in-formula-one-race-pumping-millions-into-austin-economy-f1-racing/69562080007/" data-vars-content-id="764bd65e-5e72-423c-b1a7-eda74940b1fc" data-vars-headline="What to do in Austin during Formula 1" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2022/10/17/10-years-in-formula-one-race-pumping-millions-into-austin-economy-f1-racing/69562080007/" target="_blank">while local economists</a> estimate the economic impact to be in the billions.

Austin City Limits Music Festival in photos

Austin City Limits Music Festival weekend one in photos.

<figure><img alt="" height="3307" id="9e1d8732-2e2f-469b-84da-d00c78260fe9" src="https://images.axios.com/u_INSuD4R0tbyhq3ok3PSgGUtHM=/2023/10/09/1696873532350.jpg" width="4961"/><figcaption>Hozier on Oct. 8. Photo: Erika Goldring/FilmMagic</figcaption></figure>

ACL Music Fest according to Waterloo's John Kunz

Waterloo Records' owner John Kunz has been selling records in Austin for 50 years.

There are so many artists on tap at Austin City Limits Music Festival, and Waterloo Records owner John Kunz is a pro when it comes to discovering new artists and attending the festival.Catch up quick: The beloved record shop opened in 1982 and Kunz has been selling records in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Austin for 50 years" data-vars-click-url="https://waterloorecords.com/CustomPage/13317" data-vars-content-id="89c9b119-dbb6-4cf3-bb88-0a86dbf57bf9" data-vars-headline="ACL Music Fest according to Waterloo&#x27;s John Kunz" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://waterloorecords.com/CustomPage/13317" target="_blank">Austin for 50 years</a>. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, Waterloo hosted artist signings from a tent on the ACL festival grounds.

The Texas Memorial Museum reopens with new name

It is now the Texas Science & Natural History Museum.

Things to Do

Austin is getting a new — though familiar — museum.Driving the news: The UT museum previously known as the Texas Memorial Museum is reopening Saturday as the Texas Science &amp; Natural History Museum.

The Peacock: Austin's Middle Eastern gem

The food is firmly rooted in the rocky, olive-studded hills of the Levant and North Africa.

In a previous life, I spent years roaming the Middle East and fell in love with the region&#x27;s cuisine. <ul><li>So I had been meaning to try Peacock, among a growing constellation of upscale Mediterranean restaurants in Austin (see <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Aba" data-vars-click-url="https://www.abarestaurants.com/austin/" data-vars-content-id="bbb2a1eb-1123-43be-bb21-725be31bfc31" data-vars-headline="The Peacock: Austin&#x27;s Middle Eastern gem" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.abarestaurants.com/austin/" target="_blank">Aba</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ezov" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/07/12/east-austin-ezov-mediterranean-restaurant" data-vars-content-id="bbb2a1eb-1123-43be-bb21-725be31bfc31" data-vars-headline="The Peacock: Austin&#x27;s Middle Eastern gem" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/07/12/east-austin-ezov-mediterranean-restaurant" target="_self">Ezov</a>).</li></ul>

Austin hate crimes jumped nearly 60% in 2022

The city saw a nearly 60% increase from 2021.

Austin saw one of the biggest jumps in hate crimes in the country last year, with a nearly 60% increase from 2021, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.csusb.edu/hate-and-extremism-center" data-vars-content-id="c4d399a7-3033-4839-9e93-e23e85d3af39" data-vars-headline="Austin hate crimes jumped nearly 60% in 2022" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.csusb.edu/hate-and-extremism-center" target="_blank">new report</a>.Driving the news: The city saw 46 reported hate crimes in 2022, up from 29 in 2021, according to the unpublished report by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.csusb.edu/hate-and-extremism-center" data-vars-content-id="c4d399a7-3033-4839-9e93-e23e85d3af39" data-vars-headline="Austin hate crimes jumped nearly 60% in 2022" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.csusb.edu/hate-and-extremism-center" target="_blank">Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism</a> at California State University, San Bernardino.

Culture